Camper

ABSTRACT

A flexible cover structure is arranged over and around a supporting frame including a plurality of parallel vertical posts at each side of the vehicle and which are normally vertical and hinged in a common plane to swing downwardly into the body of the structure to lower the top and minimize the height of the structure as a whole.

United States Patent 1191 211 Appl. No.5 164,737

[521 US. (:1. .Q 296/23 R, 296/104 Barker Aug. 14, 1973 [54] CAMPEll 1,337,817 4/1920 Bode 287/100 [76] Inventor: Joleph K. ker. R 2. i g FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1,180,058 9/1967 Great Britain 296/]04 [221 Filed: July 21, 1971 Primary Examiner-Philip Goodman Attorney-John X. Phillips [51] Int. Cl 860p 3/34 [57] ABSTRACT 53 Field f Sal-ch d H 29 2 27 3 MC, A flexible cover structure is arranged over and around 29 04 105 07- 10 0 20 21 2 a supporting frame including a plurality of parallel ver- 135/4 R, 4 A tical posts at each side of the vehicle and which are normally vertical and hinged in a common plane to swing 55 t cm downwardly into the body of the structure to lower the UNITED STATES PATENTS top and minimize the height of the structure as a whole.

3,627,375 12/1971 Rosen 296/36 11 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures 9 7* "1 1 5111: I .T:. "Z-J5:,;: :1: I: T' T T ;.I]1

| H i l 1 PATENIED Am; 14 ms SHEEI 1 [IF 4 I LII INVENTOR Josepf) K. Bar/(er ATTORNEY Pmmmws 14 ms 3.752.528

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ATTORNEY PAIENTEU M 14 I818 sumuura INVENTOR J05 eph ff. fiar/cer ATTORNEY CAMPER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT In my prior US. Pat. No. 3,326,597 I have shown a trailer structure having a frame including upstanding posts connected at the top thereof by roof-supporting bows. The upstanding members are in telescoping sections to permit them to slide down to lower the roof structure. In my prior US. Pat. No. 3,374,029 I have shown a bottom frame structure for supporting the upstanding members and formed of vertical and horizontal rnembers'preferably of square cross section and connected together to form flush inner and outer surfaces. The present construction embodies features of both of the prior patents referred to.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A lower rigid frame section having vertical and horizontal, preferably square, structural elements forms the basis of the body of the structure which may be in the form of a trailer camper or a camper body to be mounted on a pick-up truck. The vertical members at the sides of the camper have open upper ends and have fixed thereto preferably by welding a lower hinge element at the top of each vertical member. An upper hinge element is connected to each lower hinge element and each upper hinge element carries a vertically extending post preferably of square cross-section which forms the main supporting structure for the cover structure to be described. The vertical posts have open upper ends receiving the down-turned ends of transverse roof bows, and a slidable sleeve is movable downwardly over both of each of the hinge devices to lock them against swinging movement. The cover structure is flexible and held downwardly at its lower edges by any suitable means. Such means may be released whereupon the roof bows may be lifted from engagement with the upper ends of the posts which may be swung inwardly transversely of the vehicle and the cover structure dropped downwardly thereon to minimize the height of the structure, for example, when travelling. Each hinge joint is so constructed that the associated post cannot swing outwardly beyond vertical position or inwardly and downwardly beyond horizontal position.

Most of the roof-supporting bows are preferably arched from side to side so that the top of the cover structure sheds water. At the rear end ofthe structure, the cross bow is not in fact bowed but preferably straight and horizontal so that the rear end of the roof slopes downwardly and rearwardly to end in a straight line across the rear of the body. This eliminates the use of gussets or similar expedients between the'roof of the cover and the back wall thereof and permits the cover to be made of a single piece ofcanvas. This cover structure may be cut in a pattern toform a top, side walls and end walls and the side and end wallsmaybe-connected by heavy zippers.

All of the frame elements and posts are preferably made of aluminum and are demountable to be shipped as a kit. In this way, the frame is relatively light, as is true of the posts and the structure accordingly may be easily assembled by the purchaser. By following this system, theresultant camper structure is far more convenientandeconomical to purchase and maintainas distinguished from presentstructures which are completely fabricated at the factory and are heavy and difficult to handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a camper trailer;

FIG. 2 is a view mostly in section of the lower frame structure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a similar view on line 6-6 of FIG. 4, some what enlarged;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation of the trailer;

FIG. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the vertical posts and associated elements, parts being broken away;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a portion of one of the side walls and window elements;

FIG. 10 is a reduced plan view of the cover structure, parts of the forward wall being broken away;

FIG. 11 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary section on line 11-11 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section on line 12-12 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a rear elevation of the structure without the cover structure;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the forward end portion of the supporting structure with the cover in position;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a supporting grid structure or the forward end of the cover;

FIG. 16 is a detail section on line 16-16 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention shown as a camper on a pick-up truck;

FIG. 18 is a side elevation of the frame of the structure in FIG. 17 showing the cover in section;

FIG. 19 is a detail section on line 19-19 of FIG. 17;

.FIG. 20 is .a similar view on line 20-20 of FIG. 17

showing the structure collapsed;

ments 14 and horizontal upper structural elements 16 preferably terminatingat their ends at the vertical elements 14. All of these structural elements are preferably formed of aluminum and welded .togethenand the inside and'outward surfaces of allof the elements at each side of thevehicleare flushas suggested in FIG.

Referringito FIG. 13, the rear verticalelementsof the side frame areiconnected by upperand lower spaced,

preferablycontinuous structural elements-18 and 20,

preferably also of square cross-sectionsimilartothose described and connected by vertical structural elements. 22, welded to the horizontal structure elernents.

The forwardend of the frame structure maybe identical with the rear structure just described, and the horizontalelements 16 areeliminated between the first two vertical elements 14 for a purpose-which will become apparent.

The structure shown in the figures referred to is preferably in the form of a trailer camper having a pair of supporting wheels 24, and the frame structure may be formed as shown in my prior patents referred to to form a wheel well 26. The forward and of the trailer is provided with any desired type of hitch 28 to connect it to a towing vehicle.

As stated, the upper end of each vertical structural element 14 has its top open as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Each of these vertical elements 14 supports a hinge device indicated as a whole by the numeral 30 and each hinge device comprises upper and lower elements 32 and 34, respectively. The latter element is provided with a depending projection 36 slidable in each of the vertical elements 14 and provided with a head 38 bearing on the upper end of the associated vertical member 14. Each lower hinge element 34 is provided with an upstanding hinge flange 40 having an opening 42 for a hinge pin, and the flange 40 is provided with an arcuate face inwardly of the vehicle as at 44 formed concentric with the axis of the hinge pin opening.

Each upper hinge element 32 is provided with a pair of depending flanges 46 adapted to straddle the associated flange 40 and provided with aligned hinge pin receiving openings 48 adapted to be aligned with the associated opening 42 to receive a hinge pin 50 (FIG. 6). Each pair of flanges 46 is provided with a flat bottom 52 adapted to seat on a shoulder 53 of the lower hinge element and toward the inside of the vehicle each surface 52 curves upwardly and inwardly as at 54 on an arc of a circle concentric with openings 48. The lower surfaces 52, engaging the shoulders 53, limit upward an outward swinging movement of the hinge elements 30 beyond a vertical operative position. The inner edges 56 of the hinge elements 32 are engageable with the shoulders 53 to limit downward and inward swinging movement of the upper hinge elements below a horizontal position within the vehicle.

Each upper hinge element 32 is provided with a preferably integral upstanding shank 58 adapted to be slidably received in the lower end of a vertical post 60 of similar cross-section and also preferably formed of aluminum in the interest of lightness. The lower end of the post 60 in FIG. 8 is somewhat elevated to illustrate the shank 58, and it will be understood that the lower end of each post 60 seats on the top of the upper hinge element 32 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 8.

Each post 60 is provided with a sleeve 62 (FIG. 4) the lower portion of which is straight, enlarged and slidable downwardly over the hinge elements 32 and 34 to lock them in position against swinging movement as shown in Flg. 4, thus normally maintaining each post 60 in vertical position. The upper end of each sleeve 62 is constricted as at 64 to frictionally slide on the associated post 60 to be maintained in elevated position when it is desired to swing the posts 60 downwardly to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4 and the solid line position shown in FIg. 6.

Each post 60 has its upper end open as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, and the inner wall of each post 60 is preferably notched as at 62 (FIG. 8) and this notch is preferably square for a reason which will become apparent. The posts 60 are arranged in transversely aligned pairs at opposite sides of the vehicle and each pair of posts is connected by a bow 64 having downturned ends 66. The bows are preferably of square hollow cross-section and made of aluminum and the downturned ends 66 are adapted to seat in the upper end of the posts 60, preferably extending through the notches 62 to tend to rigidify the structure as a whole. The elements 64 have been generally designated as bows and they are arched as shown except as referred to below. The rearmost bow 64 is preferably straight and horizontal from end to end, for a purpose to be described and the same is true of the forward bow as shown in FIG. 15.

In FIGS. 13 to 16, inclusive, it will be noted that the forward bow 64 is connected to a grid-like structure 68 formed of a plurality of downwardly and forwardly curved elements 70 of preferably square cross-section welded at their upper ends to the adjacent bow 64. These elements 70 are connected by transverse braces 72 welded at their ends to the members 70 and similarly connected at their lower ends to a transverse similarly shaped bar 74 adapted to rest on the transverse upper frame member 18 as shown in FIG. 16. Beneath the bar 74 is welded a plurality of depending projections 76 slidable downwardly through openings 78 in the frame member 18, as shown in FIG. 16.

Adjacent pairs of posts 60 are connected by upper and lower ties 80 and 82. These ties are preferably of square cross-section and of the same size as the posts 60. Such posts are eliminated at the forward end of the trailer, and in lieu thereof, curved elements 84 are connected by welding at their upper rear ends to the adjacent posts 60 (FIGS. 13 and 14) and are connected at their lower forward ends to the upper hinge elements 32 at the forward extremity of the vehicle. It will be apparent that if the forward bow 64 (FIGS. 13, 14 and 15) is lifted from the associated posts 60 and all of the sleeves 62 (FIG. 4) are slid upwardly, all of the posts 60 at each side of the vehicle are adapted to be swung downwardly to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4. All of the pivot pins 50 (FIG. 6) at each side of the vehicle lie in a horizontal plane hence all of the posts at each side of the vehicle and the curved frame member 84 may swing inwardly as a unit to horizontal position.

The entire vehicle may be covered by a structure shown in FIG. 10. Referring to such figure, the numeral 86 designates a cover structure as a whole which may be made of any suitable material such as canvas, opaque plastic, neoprene coated nylon, etc., or such structure may be made in accordance with the disclosure in my copending application, Ser. No. 144,053 filed May 17, 1971, now abaondoned. In such application, a cover is formed of hinged sections of fiberglas. Assuming that the cover is made as a single unit, for example, canvas, it may comprise a roof section 88, a front wall section 90, a rear wall section 92 and side wall sections 94. The roof structure may be cut to a proper pattern as in FIG. 10 to fit the structure previously described in which case the forward edges of the side walls will be curved to follow the curvature of the grid 68 and curved members 84 (FIGS. 14 and 15). The rear edges of the side walls and the side edges of the rear wall may be provided with zippers 96 so that .the corner portions may be closed at the rear of the body. The straight side edges of the front wall and the curved forward edges of the side walls 94 similarly may be provided with zippers 98 and these zippers may be provided with conventional slides 100 as suggested in FIG. 1. The zippers 96 may be continued part of the length of the top 88 as indicated at 102 in the event it is desired to open the rear portion of the top88.

As previously stated, the rear bows 64 are straight (FIGS. 11 and 12) and this is desirable so that a top structure as shown in FIG. may be employed. In such case, the top 88 between the rearmost and next adjacent posts 60 will slope downwardly to shed water toward the rear of the camper and so that the top 88 will terminate in a straight transverse line 104 (FIG. 7).

Similarly, the forward bow 64, as previously stated, will be straight as shown in FIG. 13 so that the forward portion of the top 88 will slope downwardly between the two forward sets of posts 60. From the forward bow 64 the front wall 90 curves downwardly and forwardly and is supported by the ties 84 and by the grid structure 68 Throughout the greater portion of the length of the body the vertical structural elements 14 may be provided with a side wall 106 and the lower adjacent edge portion of each side wall 94 may be clamped thereto as at 108. The forward ends of the walls 106 will terminate at the second vertical members 14 from the forward end of the trailer and forwardly of such points, the side walls 94 will extend downwardly for connection with the side frame members 12 by any suitable means, for example, snap fasteners 110 or any suitable means.

The forward end portions of the side walls 94 are cut to provide a door 112 and such cut at each side of the vehicle is provided with a zipper 114 having one of the slides 100 at its lower end when the door is closed. When the door is opened, the slide 100 is moved upwardly throughout the length of the zipper 114 and the snap fasteners 110 are opened thus providing access to the interior of the vehicle. Doors 112 may be used at each side of the vehicle and if only one is used, it preferably will be at the right side of the vehicle.

Windows may be provided as desired in the side walls 94 and rear wall 92. This conveniently may be done as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 in which a window pane is indicated by the numeral 116 and is framed as at 118. The window 116 slides on top and bottom strips 120 provided with outer guides 122 and the adjacent wall portion of the top structure 88 may be reinforced by strips 124 to maintain the proper shape of the opening 126 in the cover wall. The particular location and structure of the windows, of course, is relatively unimportant.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 17 to 22, inclusive, in which a camper is shown mounted on a pick-up truck 130 having an open top body 132. In this case bottom frame members 134 are provided for the camper and a plurality of spaced vertical posts 136 are welded at their lower ends to the bottom frame members 134. Except between the rear pairs of side posts 130, these posts are connected by upper and lower ties 138 and 140, and these ties lie in the planes of the associated posts 136 and braced relative thereto by welded gusset plates 142. Similar gusset plates may be used in the form of the invention previously described if desired between the posts 60 and ties 80 and 82.

The ties 138 are continued forwardly of the forward posts 136 to overlie the roof of the cab 144 of the truck as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

At the upper end of each post 136 and on the top of the forward end of each tie 138 is arranged a hinge structure 146 which may be identical in all respect to the hinge structure shown in FIG. 8. The upper elements of such hinge structures are connected to posts 148 which will besimilar to the posts 60 and support at their upper ends bows 150 similar to the bows 64 to support the top 152 of a cover structure indicated as a whole by the numeral 154. All of the posts 148 at each side of the camper are connected by ties 156 so that all of the posts at each side of the camper may be swung inwardly as a unit as shown in solid lines in FIG. 20.

The forward ends of the ties 138, as indicated by the numeral 158 (FIG. 22) may be formed as a channel and they may be connected by a transverse channel tie 160 having its base 162 extended beneath the top flange of the channel 158 and welded thereto, thus providing a space between the base 162 and the bottom flange of the channel 158. This provides a space to receive a rigid board 164 (FIG. 20) on which may be arranged a mattress indicated by the dotted lines 166 in FIG. 20. This board will lie just above the cab of the truck and the top line of such cab is indicated by the dot and dash line 168 in FIG. 19. Thus there is provided space for a mattress when the posts are collapsed as in FIG. 20 while there is ample space for a person to crawl into the compartment over the truck cab when the cover top 152 is in the normal position shown in FIG. 18.

The cover structure 154 is provided with side walls 170 (FIGS. 17, 19 and 20) and forward and rear end walls 172 and 174, the lowredges of which may be held in position by any suitable means such as snap fasteners 176.

There are no ties between the rear pairs of posts 136 (FIG. 18) and this space is left clear so that the side walls 170 may be cut to provide a door 178 (FIG. 17) and the edges of such cut are zippered as at 180 to permit the door to be opened. The lower edge of the door is connected to the bottom frame members 134 by snap fasteners 182.

OPERATION The operation of the structures will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. The entire structure may be sold and shipped as a kit and the lower frame structure 10, while completely fabricated in itself will be relatively light and easily handled asit is formed of aluminum. In assembling, the projections 36 of the lower hinge elements (FIGS. 2 and 4) are inserted in the upper ends of the vertical structural elements 14, whereuponthe posts 60, with the: sleeves 62 thereon, will be inserted over the projections 58 (FIG. 4). The bows 64 may then have their ends inserted in the upper ends of the posts 60, whereupon the cover structure may be placed in position and secured. The grid structure 68 is placed in position with the forward bow 64 (FIGS. 13, 14 and '15) and the projections 76 will be inserted in the openings 78 (FIG. 16).

The entire cover structure may then be placed in position and the lower edges secured. The trailer is now ready for use. When it is desired to collapse the structure, for example when traveling, the sleeve 62 (FIG. 4) will be slid upwardly on the posts 60 and will maintain their upper positions by frictional engagement with the posts. All of these posts may be swung inwardly after the removal of the bows 64, which may be stowed in the bottom of the trailer. The top part of the cover structure will then collapse downwardly and the collapsed structure may be covered with a tarpaulin.

In the modified form of the invention (FIGS. 17 and 22 inclusive) the same procedure may be followed ex- .cept that the aluminum frame structure without the elements above the posts 136 is lifted into the truck and the lightness of such structure permits this operation to be carried out much more easily than can be done with conventional campers of this type, most of which are completely rigid fabricated structures of great weight. The upper supporting structure is then inserted, the hinge units 144 having lower projections 36 as in FIG. 4 to be inserted in the upper ends of the posts 136. Thus the entire supporting structure may be assembled as two separate units which greatly facilitates the handling of the elements. The cover structure may then be placed in position and fixed in any suitable manner at the lower edges thereof. The body of the device provides ample internal space and the mattress is ,usable when the top 152 of the cover structure is in its raised position. To reduce wind resistance when traveling, the hinge elements 146 permit the swinging downwardly of the posts 148 after the removal of the bows 150, in which case the posts will assume the positions shown in FIG. 20. It will be obvious that whereas the lower hinge elements of the hinge units 146 will be supported by the posts 136 as in the other form of the invention described, the lower hinge elements at the forward extremity of the body will be welded to the upper faces of the ties 138. I

The present construction is far more economical to manufacture than conventional rigid prefabricated structures, and may very easily be assembled in the manner described. Shipment of either structure is far less expensive since they may be shipped in knockeddown form and assembled by the purchaser. Many people will be in a position to afford one of the present structures who find it impossible to invest substantial costs involved in prior structures.

I claim:

1. A camper comprising a supporting frame structure and a cover for said structure, said frame structure comprising upstanding posts at opposite sides of the camper each provided with a hinge spaced from the top and bottom thereof whereby each post is adptable to swing inwardly to a substantially horizontal position to drop said cover to minimize the overall height of the camper and to support said cover with said horizontal portions of said posts spaced from the bottom of said frame structure to provide a storage space.

2. A camper according to claim 1 wherein all of said hinges at each side of said camper lie in a horizontal plane whereby the upper portions of said posts when swung inwardly will lie substantially in a horizontal plane, each hinge having portions for limiting downwardly movement of the upper portions of said posts to said horizontal position.

3. A camper according to claim 2 wherein said posts at each side of the camper above said hinges are connected by ties whereby all of the upper portions of said posts at each side of the camper swing inwardly about said hinges as a unit.

4. A camper according to claim 1 wherein all of said posts at each side of the camper are rigidly connected for movement as a unit when swung about said hinges.

5. A camper according to claim 4 wherein said cover is provided with a top, side walls and an end wall, the bow adjacent such end wall being straight and the next adjacent bow being curved upwardly whereby said top slopes downwardly from said adjacent bow to said straight end bow to drain water downwardly over said end wall.

6. A camper according to claim 4 wherein the elements of each hinge have portions engageable with each other to prevent the portions of said posts above said hinges from swinging outwardly beyond a vertical position.

7. A camper according to claim 6 wherein said elements of each hinge are upper and lower elements and a horizontal pivot pin connects each pair of such elements, and a sleeve slideable downwardly and over both elements of each hinge to lock them in position withthe portions of said posts above said hinges in vertical position.

8. A camper according to claim 1 wherein said supporting frame structure comprises a lower main frame including spaced vertical frame elements of closed section having open tops, each hinge comprising upper and lower elements pivotally connected to each other, each lower hinge element having a depending projection fitting in the open upper end of one of said vertical main frame members.

9. A camper according to claim 2 provided with ties connecting the posts of each side of the camper, the ties at one end portion of the camper curving downwardly and forwardly for direct connection with the upper hinge elements at opposite sides of the extremity of said end of the camper, said top of said cover extend ing downwardly over said last named ties.

10. A camper according to claim 9 wherein said frame sturcture comprises a lower base frame including a horizontal frame member extending across the extremity of said end of the camper, and a grid extending from said horizontal frame member and generally following the curvature of said curved ties and connected at its rear end to the next adjacent bow.

11. A camper according to claim 10 wherein the upper ends of said posts are open, said bows being detachably connected to said posts by turning the ends of said bows downwardly for reception in the upper ends of the associated posts.

* i i t i 

1. A camper comprising a supporting frame structure and a cover for said structure, said frame structure comprising upstanding posts at opposite sides of the camper each provided with a hinge spaced from the top and bottom thereof whereby each post is adptable to swing inwardly to a substantially horizontal position to drop said cover to minimize the overall height of the camper and to support said cover with said horizontal portions of said posts spaced from the bottom of said frame structure to provide a storage space.
 2. A camper according to claim 1 wherein all of said hinges at each side of said camper lie in a horizontal plane whereby the upper portions of said posts when swung inwardly will lie substantially in a horizontal plane, each hinge having portions for limiting downwardly movement of the upper portions of said posts to said horizontal position.
 3. A camper according to claim 2 wherein said posts at each side of the camper above said hinges are connected by ties whereby all of the upper portions of said posts at each side of the camper swing inwardly about said hinges as a unit.
 4. A camper according to claim 1 wherein all of said posts at each side of the camper are rigidly connected for movement as a unit when swung about said hinges.
 5. A camper according to claim 4 wherein said cover is provided with a top, side walls and an end wall, the bow adjacent such end wall being straight and the next adjacent bow being curved upwardly whereby said top slopes downwardly from said adjacent bow to said straight end bow to drain water downwardly over said end wall.
 6. A camper according to claim 4 wherein the elements of each hinge have portions engageable with each other to prevent the portions of said posts above said hinges from swinging outwardly beyond a vertical position.
 7. A camper according to claim 6 wherein said elements of each hinge are upper and lower elements and a horizontal pivot pin connects each pair of such elements, and a sleeve slideable downwardly and over both elements of each hinge to lock them in position with the portions of said posts above said hinges in vertical position.
 8. A camper according to claim 1 wherein said supporting frame structure comprises a lower main frame including spaced vertical frame elements of closed section having open tops, each hinge comprising upper and lower elements pivotally connected to each other, each lower hinge element having a depending projection fitting in the open upper end of one of said vertical main frame members.
 9. A camper according to claim 2 provided with ties connecting the posts of each side of the camper, the ties at one end portion of the camper curving downwardly and forwardly for direct connection with the upper hinge elements at opposite sides of the extremity of said end of the camper, said top of said cover extending downwardly over said last named ties.
 10. A camper according to claim 9 wherein said frame sturcture comprises a lower base frame including a horizontal frame member extending across the extremity of said end of the camper, and a grid extending from said horizontal frame member and generally following the curvature of said curved ties and connected at its rear end to the next adjacent bow.
 11. A camper according to claim 10 wherein the upper ends of said posts are open, said bows being detachably connected to said posts by turning the ends of said bows downwardly for reception in the upper ends of the associated posts. 